THE BURNING HOUSE | A STORY FROM THE LOTUS SUTRA The famous parable of the three vehicles and the burning house appears in chapter 3 [of the Lotus Sutra]. The burning house represents human life, and the three vehicles— the goat, deer, and ox carts—represent the shravaka, pratyekabuddha, and bodhisattva ways. Without realizing that they are in the midst of and being consumed by the fire of life, human beings seek life’s pleasures. In order to save them the Buddha tries to get them to get out of the burning house by offering them things appropriate to their abilities and liking (i.e., the three vehicles, teachings of skillful means). When they go outside, all alike are given great white ox-carts (the One Buddha-Vehicle). - from INTRODUCTION TO THE LOTUS SUTRA by Yoshiro Tamura, edited by Gene Reeves Read more: wisdompubs.org/book/introduction-lotus-sutra
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 10:01:41 +0000